Chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis of heavy crude oil mixtures with emphasis in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: a review

The state of the art in the characterization of heavy crude oil mixtures is presented. This characterization can be done by different techniques, such as gas chromatography (GC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), infrared spectroscopy (IR), Raman spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is the technique of choice due to its capability to provide information on the chemical nature of individual types of hydrogen and carbon atoms in different and complex mixtures of crude oils. The progress made in the interpretation of the NMR spectra with the development of new NMR techniques and different multivariate data analyses could give relevant information about the identification and characterization of hydrocarbons and their physical and chemical properties. These progresses can improve the refining industries operation as a result of the better knowledge on the crude composition that is fed in the refining process, as well as in the prediction of better operating conditions to obtain refined products with desired specifications and in quantities desirable to meet the market demands. The improvement in the refining operation conditions is reflected in economical benefits.